Principal Engineer, Master Black Belt

About The Role

The Principal Engineer, Master Black Belt will lead enterprise-wide quality and operational excellence initiatives across our high-performance, liquid-cooled server products and related manufacturing processes. The role requires influencing cross-functional teams, embedding a data-driven, quality-focused culture, and aligning improvement initiatives with organizational strategy.

What You Will Do

• Lead or contribute to transformation initiatives, helping set new standards for how ZT approaches manufacturing risk analysis, quality, and continuous improvement.
• Define and implement new systems, processes, or frameworks that support the smart factory vision, including automation, metrology, advanced inspection and testing, and predictive analytics.
• Leverage deep, data-rich environments and tools to generate insights that improve yield, reliability, and throughput.
• Collaborate across design, quality, manufacturing, test, and supplier engineering to drive solutions that integrate seamlessly into production.
• Apply advanced statistical and analytical methods to identify, quantify, and control risk in complex manufacturing environments.
• Translate DFM and PFMEA outputs into actionable process controls, ensuring proactive prevention of variation rather than reactive correction.
• Coach and mentor Black Belts and Green Belts to develop technical skills, leadership capabilities, and project execution excellence.
• Foster a culture of continuous improvement and data-driven decision-making across all levels of the organization.
• Lead cross-functional teams to resolve complex operational issues and implement enterprise-level improvement initiatives.
• Define, monitor, and analyze key operational and quality metrics to drive continuous improvement and sustain performance gains.
• Establish and standardize Lean Six Sigma methodologies and best practices across the organization to ensure consistent application and continuous improvement.

What You Bring

• The right person for this role is an agent of change and has exceptional analytical capabilities, thrives in a fast-paced environment, loves problem-solving, is a good communicator, and is passionate about enabling the future of cloud computing.
• MBA or exposure to business, finance or economics is advantageous.
• 10–15 years of experience in high-volume, high-complexity manufacturing, with at least 5 years in leadership or transformation roles (not necessarily people management).
• Demonstrated expertise in statistical and analytical methods such as regression analysis, correlation analysis, DOE, SPC, PFMEA, Gauge R&R, and commonality studies.
• Proficiency with data-driven tools such as Minitab, JMP, Python, R, SQL (or equivalent) to analyze and interpret large, complex datasets.
• Track record of driving measurable improvements in yield, reliability, or process robustness.
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to engage at both executive and technical levels.
• Background in electronics assembly, PCBA, servers, or other high-reliability industries (e.g., aerospace, medical devices, automotive, etc.).
• Experience coaching or mentoring technical teams to upskill in data-driven decision-making.
• Certified Lean Six Sigma Master Black Belt.

Nice to Haves

• Exposure to or knowledge of AI/ML toolsets for statistical problem solving, predictive analytics, or anomaly detection.
• Proven success driving enterprise-level quality or operational excellence programs.
• ISO 9000 / ISO 9001 familiarity — knowledge of quality management systems.
• MBA or exposure to business, finance or economics is advantageous.
• Experience leading across a variety of functions.

About ZT Systems

ZT Systems, a Sanmina Company, is dedicated to building a diverse, inclusive, and authentic workplace. We are committed to providing a wide range of benefits and perks that appeal to the variety of needs across our diverse employee base. We are also an Equal Opportunity Employer and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any kind.

What We Offer

• Competitive base salary
• Performance-based annual bonus eligibility
• 401(k) retirement savings plan
• Tuition reimbursement for eligible education programs
• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage with access to leading providers
• Mental health resources and employee wellness support programs
• Company-paid life and disability insurance
• Paid time off (PTO) and company-paid holidays
• Parental leave and family care support programs
• Structured training programs and on-the-job learning opportunities
• Matching gifts and volunteer programs to support causes you care about

Additional Information

All offers of employment will be conditional subject to the following:

• U.S. citizenship, legal residency, refugee status, or asylee status.
• Eligibility to obtain an export control license or license exception from the Bureau of Industry and Science & U.S. Department of Commerce.